Development Partner for Carolina North development at UNC Chapel Hill

CAROLINA NORTH
Request for Qualification | Carolina North Mixed-Use Development Partner
September 4, 2026
northcarolina.unc.edu
carolinanorth@unc.edu

Carolina North | Former Horace Williams Airport

THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA
AT CHAPEL HILL
REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS #: RFQ2026TCM CNDP
Carolina North Mixed-Use Development Partner
Date of Issue: September 4,2026 Direct all inquiries concerning this RFQ to:
Proposal Opening Date: October 16, 2026 Troy C. Morse
at 4:00 PM ET Deputy Chief Procurement Officer
Email: troy.morse@unc.edu

THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AT CHAPEL HILL
Request for Qualifications #
RFQ2026TCM CNDP
______________________________________________________
For internal State agency processing, including evaluation of qualifications, provide your
company's eVP (Electronic Vendor Portal) Number. Pursuant to G.S. 132-1.10(b) this identification
number shall not be released to the public. This page will be removed and shredded, or otherwise
kept confidential, before the procurement file is made available for public inspection.
This page shall be filled out and returned with your proposal.
Failure to do so may subject your proposal to rejection.
___________________________________________________
Vendor Name
___________________________________________________
Vendor eVP#
___________________________________________________
Secretary of State ID#
Note: For a contract to be awarded to you, your company (you) must be a North Carolina
registered Vendor in good standing. You must enter the Vendor number assigned through eVP
(Electronic Vendor Portal). If you do not have a Vendor number,
register at https://evp.nc.gov/SignIn
Electronic responses ONLY will be accepted for this solicitation.

Carolina North | Former Horace William Airport

THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AT CHAPEL HILL
Refer ALL Inquiries regarding this RFQ to the Request for Qualifications #: RFQ2026TCM CNDP
Procurement Officer:
A list of Respondents who submitted to this RFQ
Troy C. Morse will be published following the submittal due date
of: 16 October at 4:00PM ET
troy.morse@unc.edu
Using Agency: UNC Chapel Hill
Requisition No.: Commodity No. and Description:
EXECUTION
In compliance with this Request for Qualifications ("RFQ"), and subject to all the conditions herein, the
undersigned Vendor offers and agrees to furnish and deliver any or all items upon which prices are bid, at
the prices set opposite each item within the time specified herein.
By executing this RFQ, the undersigned Vendor understands that false certification is a Class I felony and
certifies that:
* this RFQ is submitted competitively and without collusion (G.S. 143-54),
* none of its officers, directors, or owners of an unincorporated business entity has been convicted
of any violations of Chapter 78A of the General Statutes, the Securities Act of 1933, or the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 (G.S. 143-59.2), and
* it is not an ineligible Vendor as set forth in G.S. 143-59.1.
Furthermore, by executing this RFQ, the undersigned certifies to the best of Vendor's knowledge and
belief, that:
* it and its principals are not presently debarred, suspended, proposed for debarment, declared
ineligible or voluntarily excluded from covered transactions by any Federal or State department or
agency.
As required by G.S. 143-48.5, the undersigned Vendor certifies that it, and each of its sub-contractors
for any contract awarded as a result of this RFQ and subsequent RFP, complies with the requirements
of Article 2 of Chapter 64 of the NC General Statutes, including the requirement for each employer with
more than 25 employees in North Carolina to verify the work authorization of its employees through the
federal E-Verify system.
As required by Executive Order 24 (2017), the undersigned Vendor certifies will comply with all Federal
and State requirements concerning fair employment and that it does not and will not discriminate,
harass, or retaliate against any employee in connection with performance of any contract arising from
this solicitation.
G.S. 133-32 and Executive Order 24 (2009) prohibit the offer to, or acceptance by, any employee of the
State or the University associated with the preparing plans, specifications, estimates for public contracts;
or awarding or administering public contracts; or inspecting or supervising delivery of the public contract
of any gift from anyone with a contract with the University, or from any person seeking to do business
with the University. By execution of this response to the RFP, the undersigned certifies, for Vendor's entire
organization and its employees or agents, that Vendor is not aware that any such gift has been offered,
accepted, or promised by any employees of your organization.

Failure to execute/sign proposal prior to submittal may render proposal invalid and it MAY BE REJECTED.
Late proposals shall not be accepted.
COMPLETE/FORMAL NAME OF VENDOR:
STREET ADDRESS: P.O. BOX: ZIP:
CITY & STATE & ZIP: TELEPHONE NUMBER: TOLL FREE TEL. NO:
PRINCIPAL PLACE OF BUSINESS ADDRESS IF DIFFERENT FROM ABOVE (SEE INSTRUCTIONS TO VENDORS ITEM #21):
PRINT NAME & TITLE OF PERSON SIGNING ON BEHALF OF VENDOR:
VENDOR'S AUTHORIZED SIGNATURE*: DATE: EMAIL:

MIXED-USE DISTRICT DEVELOPMENT PARTNER RFQ
CONTENTS
Overview .......................................................................................1
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill ...............................................................2
1. Development Opportunity ................................................................3
1.1 Strategic Importance of Carolina North to UNC-Chapel Hill ..........................................3
1.2 Early Funding for Carolina North's Predevelopment and Infrastructure ....................4
2. Development Partnership .................................................................5
2.1 Development Partner...........................................................................................................5
2.2 Right to Form a Team ..........................................................................................................5
2.3 Design Team ..........................................................................................................................5
2.4 Preferred Partnership Model ..............................................................................................6
3. The Project Area .............................................................................8
3.1 Project Tracts .........................................................................................................................8
3.2 Existing Conditions ...............................................................................................................9
3.3 Utilities, Infrastructure, and Transportation ..................................................................10
3.4 Entitlement Jurisdiction .....................................................................................................11
3.5 Existing Permits ..................................................................................................................11
4. Questions and Requests for Clarification ...........................................12
4.1 Improper Communications ..............................................................................................12
5. Submittal Requirements .................................................................13
5.1 Developer Execution Form ................................................................................................13
5.2 Cover Letter .........................................................................................................................13
5.3 Developer Past Project Relevance and Successful Experiences ..................................13
5.4 Firm and Team Background and Financial Resources ..................................................14
5.5 Project Approach ................................................................................................................15
5.6 Exclusions ............................................................................................................................15

MIXED-USE DISTRICT DEVELOPMENT PARTNER RFQ
6. Selection Process ...........................................................................16
6.1 Mandatory Qualifications for Submittal ..........................................................................16
7. Schedule ......................................................................................17
7.1 Optional Pre-Submission Meeting: .................................................................................18
7.2 Optional Site Visit................................................................................................................18
8. Submittal of Qualifications .............................................................19
8.1 Copies, Format and Page Limit .........................................................................................19
8.2 Addenda ..............................................................................................................................19
8.3 Withdrawal or Modification of Submittals ......................................................................19
8.4 Receipt and Opening of Submittals .................................................................................19
9. General Information ......................................................................20
9.1 Reference Documents .......................................................................................................20
9.2 Due Diligence Documents .................................................................................................21
9.3 Conflict of Interest ..............................................................................................................21
9.4 Public Records and Confidential Information ................................................................21
9.5 Protest Procedure ..............................................................................................................21
10. No Liability .................................................................................22
11. Glossary & Abbreviations ...............................................................23
Appendix 1: Design Vision & Master Planning ..........................................25
Appendix 2: Preliminary Development Program ........................................27
Appendix 3: Representation ...................................................................30

PAGE 1 |MIXED-USE DISTRICT DEVELOPMENT PARTNER RFQ
OVERVIEW
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is advancing "Carolina North", one of the
most significant development initiatives in the University's history. Located on 240 acres1,
Carolina North is envisioned as a public-facing campus that will expand UNC-Chapel Hill's
capacity for teaching, research, innovation, housing, health, and community interaction,
while delivering long-term economic and public benefits to the region and the State of North
Carolina. Carolina North will provide a welcoming point of connection between UNC-Chapel
Hill and the people it serves across North Carolina, elevating the University's contributions to
education, research, health care, innovation and public service.
A central component of Carolina North is the Mixed- For prospective Development Partners, Carolina North
Use District, which is intended to serve as the social presents a rare opportunity to work with the nation's
and community heart of the Project, and a vibrant first public university and the flagship institution of
gathering place for the University and Chapel Hill- the University of North Carolina System in one of the
Carrboro communities. Whether it's working directly country's most dynamic growth markets. Located within
with communities to overcome challenges or conducting the Research Triangle, Carolina North is positioned in a
impactful research in labs to find solutions to pressing region anchored by research universities, life sciences,
issues, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is technology, healthcare, corporate investment, economic
dedicated to serving the people of North Carolina. As vitality, and sustained population and employment
a university built for the people, public service is at the growth.
core of Carolina's mission. Successful implementation will
require a long-term Development Partner committed to The selected Development Partner will have the
collaboratively creating the physical spaces that enable opportunity to help shape and implement the Mixed-
Carolina to further its service to the state for the next Use District, with potential for a sustained pipeline
200+ years. Successful Development Partners should of development activity across residential, retail,
demonstrated experience in district-scale planning, commercial, hospitality, entertainment, and other uses,
infrastructure delivery, mixed-use development, subject to University approvals, market conditions, and
collaborating with universities, housing (including student continued performance.
and affordable housing), placemaking, public realm
The University requests a Development Partner
activation, and long-term environmental stewardship.
or Development Partner team to demonstrate the
UNC-Chapel Hill is seeking a Development Partner whose technical capacity required to deliver the Mixed-Use
qualifications, prior work, and approach align with the District for Carolina North, under the terms of a Pre-
University's mission and priorities for Carolina North. Development Agreement and one or more subsequent
The ideal Development Partner will have experience Development Agreements entered into in accordance
delivering high-quality, financially successful, mixed- with the terms of the Pre-Development Agreement. Both
use environments that are active throughout the day, the Pre-Development Agreement and Development
evening, week, and weekend. They should understand Agreement will be negotiated separately with the chosen
the unique character of the site, including its relationship Development Partner.
to the University, surrounding neighborhoods, and the
A Request for Proposals ("RFP") will be issued to
Carolina North Forest, and be capable of delivering
shortlisted Respondents after this RFQ process is
development and programming at scale.
completed. The RFP will further define the University's
transaction structure objectives, detailed proposal
requirements, and the University's process for
selecting the Development Partner and executing the
pre-Development Agreement and any subsequent
Development Agreement(s) with the University.
1 The Project Area is 240 acres, with an additional 60 acres under consideration for inclusion.